Mucinous carcinoma of the colon

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Mucinous carcinoma of the colon is a distinct form of colorectal cancer found in 10-15% of patients with colorectal cancer. It differs from conventional adenocarcinoma in terms of clinical and histopathological characteristics.

For the caecal appendix, please refer to the article on mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix.

Epidemiology

There may be a slightly greater female predilection.

Clinical presentation

Patients may present with a more advanced stage of the disease.

Pathology

It is ~~characterized~~characterised by abundant mucous secretion comprising at least 50% of the tumour volume.

Radiographic features

CT

Mucinous carcinoma may show severe and more eccentric bowel-wall thickening.

Other described features include ³:

more frequent presence of ~~intratumoral~~intratumoural calcification
more common heterogeneous contrast enhancement
more areas with hypoattenuation
solid portion of mucinous carcinoma may show ~~showed~~ less enhancement than that of nonmucinous carcinoma
can produce cystic or calcified hepatic metastases⁴
can cause widespread intraperitoneal metastases ⁴

Treatment and prognosis

It has long been associated with an inferior response to treatment compared with adenocarcinoma.

History and etymology

It was first described by the general surgeon Dr. Duncan Parham in 1923².

-<p><strong>Mucinous carcinoma of the colon</strong> is a distinct form of <a href="/articles/colorectal-cancer-1">colorectal cancer</a> found in 10-15% of patients with colorectal cancer. It differs from conventional <a href="/articles/colorectal-carcinoma">adenocarcinoma</a> in terms of clinical and histopathological characteristics.</p><p>For the caecal appendix, please refer to the article on <a href="/articles/mucinous-adenocarcinoma-of-the-appendix-1">mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix</a>. </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>There may be a slightly greater female predilection.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Patients may present with a more advanced stage of the disease.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>It is characterized by abundant mucous secretion comprising at least 50% of the tumour volume. </p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>CT</h5><p>Mucinous carcinoma may show severe and more eccentric bowel-wall thickening.</p><p>Other described features include <sup>3</sup>:</p><ul>
~~-<li>more frequent presence of intratumoral calcification</li>~~
+<p><strong>Mucinous carcinoma of the colon</strong> is a distinct form of <a href="/articles/colorectal-cancer-1">colorectal cancer</a> found in 10-15% of patients with colorectal cancer. It differs from conventional <a href="/articles/colorectal-cancer-1">adenocarcinoma</a> in terms of clinical and histopathological characteristics.</p><p>For the caecal appendix, please refer to the article on <a href="/articles/mucinous-adenocarcinoma-of-the-appendix-1">mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix</a>. </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>There may be a slightly greater female predilection.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Patients may present with a more advanced stage of the disease.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>It is characterised by abundant mucous secretion comprising at least 50% of the tumour volume. </p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>CT</h5><p>Mucinous carcinoma may show severe and more eccentric bowel-wall thickening.</p><p>Other described features include <sup>3</sup>:</p><ul>
+<li>more frequent presence of intratumoural calcification</li>
~~-<li>solid portion of mucinous carcinoma may show showed less enhancement than that of nonmucinous carcinoma</li>~~
+<li>solid portion of mucinous carcinoma may show less enhancement than that of nonmucinous carcinoma</li>

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